Cats are enigmatic creatures and tend to be unpredictable at times, one of the actions that can leave owners concerned is hissing. When a cat hisses, to many, it looks alarming and aggressive but it is not; rather it is a form of communication. In this article, the possible meanings of this vocalization are discussed to help you understand better what your cat is trying to tell you. After reading this, you will be able to interpret most of your cat’s moods and emotions, as hissing can also be a result of various factors including its behavior, environment, and health which are all discussed in this article. Read on to discover how you can build a more harmonious relationship with your pet.
What Does It Mean When a Cat Starts Hissing?
Interpreting feline vocalizations and body gestures
Hissing is a behavior that expresses emotions like fear aggressiveness or discomfort .It is common among cats when they feel threatened or cornered. A cat hiss is to inform and prevent danger if it wants. It is important to understand a behavior like hissing, in context, by looking at their body language and their surroundings because it can point out the root of the problem and subsequent efforts to help can be made.
Purring And Hissing—Differences Of The Sounds
Hissing differs from other sounds such as meowing, purring or even growling in that it has a particular function and a sound and tone that goes with it. Meowing on the other hand, is usually more targeted towards people such as wanting attention or food, unlike hissing which moans may help the cat warn other feral animals. Hissing as cats’ purring is generally for the contented physiologically relaxed cats, but can also indicate self-soothing during stress. Growing overlaps slightly with hissing, in that growing is an aggressive roar but usually deeper and longer in duration. Hissing, in contrast, is high in tone, sharp short and is marked by body language hiss such as senated ears and an arched back. It is easier to understand these kinds of nuances, which aid in deciding what a cat feels and what it wants, so that an appropriate response can be given.
Is hissing always considered a sign of aggression?
The cat is much more than hissing. In the modern world, it is one of the vocal sounds they make, and many people mistakenly misunderstand it as aggression. For fear or being threatened, cats may hiss as a response from their kitty experience. When my cat hisses, it actually means she is making boundaries and trying to tell whoever is near her that it’s time to back off. You made an attempt to pet her or to move her when she was not in the mood. In those cases, many animals express their discontent through whining. What I’ve learned is how to help her manage some of her discomfort by interpreting when she’s scared, stressed, or really angry by watching her body language and the context of the hissing.
What Are the Common Reasons Your Cat Might Be Hissing?
Triggers of fear and anxiety in cats
Cats tend to hiss mostly out of fear or anxiety when faced with any threat such as an environment that they are unfamiliar with, new pets, or other sudden movements, noise, or even being held in a manner that they do not feel comfortable with. When a cat hisses, it does so as an indication that it is distressed and wants the other party to back off or change the scenario. Grasping these triggers will trigger their stress levels and enable you to create a suitable environment for them.
Intra-household conflicts with other pets
Hissing, in conjunction with other body movements, happens to be an important feature in your cat’s interpersonal relationships, especially in territorial conflicts. Cats are inherently territorial animals and when moving into scared territory as pets do to another cat, they can feel insecure. Hissing or fast blowing of air in such circumstances is instinctive and serves the purpose of general communication to maintain boundaries and enforce their dominance to the area. A perfect illustration would be a native cat who hisses towards a strange pet such as a new unfamiliar dog as a way of telling it it is not comfortable with its presence. To solve this problem, these circumstances need gradual exposure and slow change .
Discomfort that results in hissing may arise because of pain
In my Pet Psychologist experience with cats, the chances are that hissing may be meant to communicate something, which could be boundaries or pain. For instance, I have an experience when I bring a new pet at home, my other cat would hiss at it first. This means we’ve put them in a position where something is not quite right, because the cat is hissing since it wishes to convey that it is not yet comfortable. As a solution, I would pet them while in different rooms and then let them together. I discovered that cat pheromone sprays and spending time with the animals one-on-one helped alleviate tension as well. Little by little, they started living more peacefully together and the hissing lessened.
How to Handle a Hissing Cat: Do’s and Don’ts
Allowing your cat to cool down without interference
It is vital to understand that when your cat switches to hissing, you need to pick up a distance and avoid making them talk. It would be best if you let them be for a while in a tranquil place. Angering them by attempting to handle or run after them is something to avoid at all costs as this will aggravate their anxiety. Wait until your kitten becomes more calm and quiet before trying to interact with them again. There is no other way of handling the situation but hissing should be ignored because it only indicates a deeper problem.
Safeguarding Your Cat’s Environment If It’s Stressed Out
To take care of a stressed out cat, ensure that the cat is given access to a quiet, enclosed space for them to feel secure and safe. This can be a separate room or a secluded place with their favored bed, blanket, or any other piece of equipment. Some vertical space also serves the purpose of letting them keep the humans at a distance and montior them as much as they want which can be achieved with the use of cat trees or shelves. Thus, try using pheromone diffusers or sprays to avoid any unnecessary stressors like unusual individuals or loud noise. Place food, water and a clean litter box near the safe zone, that way, it can be easily accessed. By doing this, you allow them to feel a bit more comfortable and reduce the anxiety and allow them to stay in peace.
When to contact a specialist about persistent hissing
When you’ve tried everything to calm your cat down, or provide the safest environment possible, and hissing is still present, then it is time to look for professional help. The first thing I would do is consult my vet to eliminate any possible medical causes in my cat. Oftentimes, persistent hissing for no reason can be a tip off for a possible health issue. In such a case, if no health issues seem to exist, I would reach out out to a certified animal behaviorist or cat trainer who specializes in this area. They would be able to investigate their behavior in detail and give suggestions as well as individual strategies to suit my cat’s needs. With this knowledge and understanding of the reasons why my cat is hissing, I would be able to enhance my cat’s emotional state and bring back a happy environment to my house.
Can New Additions to the Home Cause a Cat to Start Hissing?
How to properly introduce a new cat or kitten to your existing feline
It is reasonable to expect that introducing a new cat or kitten can prompt your resident cat to begin hissing. First of all, cats are territorial creatures, which means that a new cat might be regarded as an invader and it can cause stress and defensive reaction such as hissing. Try to ease the transition by first separating the cats and letting them familiarize themselves with each other’s smells using toys or blankets before meeting face to face. Face to face contact should only be arranged when bothof them are calm and curious. A slow and steady approach will ensure that animosity will remain at a minimum and some degree of bonding is achieved between the cats.
Cats and Your Kids – what the balance is
Children, especially toddlers find it tricky to understand that cats sometimes need solitude. Cats are overly sensitive creatures, cherishing their personal territory and are inclined to be aggressive, by hissing, if their space is intruded. To mitigate this, it’s prudent to educate kids on how to interact with the cats properly in a gentle manner. Tell them to restrain from forcing the cat to approach them. Show them that the cat truly needs to be approached only when it is purring, and not when its tails flick or its ears are flat. Providing ladders and secluding rooms where the children cannot enter enables the cats to escape to a designated area when they are on the verge of aggression. Regular supervision and rewarding them for calm and polite behavior greatly helps to develop a friendly relationship between kids and your cat.
Adjustments Made at Home that Can Distress Your Cat
Based on how I feel and what I have noticed over a period of time, I think my cat would feel stressed if I make drastic changes to the home environment, such as remodeling the house, getting new pets, and changing the furniture. To help keep this stress to a minimum I focus on making slow changes while keeping the house elements that cats enjoy intact. In scenarios where large events are taking place such as shifting to a new home, I always have a familiar quiet place for my cat to go.
Is Your Cat Hissing at You?
Indicators that you are holding or attempting to pick up your cat inappropriately
If your cat is being grabbed or held in an intimidating manner, then there is a chance that it would hiss. This includes not providing enough support for them, holding on too tightly or moving in too quickly as a whole. Whenever you pick your cat, keep in mind to start from lifting them up gently, while supporting their back and holding their arms so they don’t feel threatened. Try to remain level headed as you ensure that your cat feels comfortable. Always take notice of how your cat behaves or acts around you, and if they appear a little uneasy or attempt to back away, take it easy and try to approach them slowly later on.
Signs Your Cat Wants to Be Left Alone: How to Tell When to Give Your Kitty Some Personal Space
Understanding when it’s your cat’s turn to be alone is crucial to a healthy relationship. Cats excel at distancing themselves from their owners and letting them know what is happening to them with only their body language if they don’t want to be close to their owner. Twitching or flicking of the tail, ears being folded down, pupils being enlarged, and the body keeping a stiff posture can be signs that they ill be pulling away. They will also tend to withdraw from Owners, Hide from them, and keep turning their head away signaling them that they wish to be alone for a while. Expect some meowing but at a lower pitch, a hiss or a growl. These signals all say “I need space”. You should respect these signals by leaping away allowing them to have the needed amount of time or space till they feel safe. Providing them with a quiet area or a comfortable hiding area will help them recharge and feel secure again.
Earning a cat’s trust when the cat has issues with hissing at people
I also pay attention to my cat’s body and actions to see if they need a break. I know I need to give them some time when I see the tail flick, ears flattened, or pupils dilated. A cat’s behavior such as head twisting (or turning away from me) or hiding is also a good cue that the cat is not ready to be interacted with and I don’t ignore such cues. If they are sounding rough, growling or hissing I know to back off fully. I always try to give the cat as much quiet time as it asks for to relax as well as a comfortable area for retreat. I think realizing these signals and avoiding crossing the boundaries that they depict have greatly enhanced the confidence I have in them.
Reference sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Why is my cat hissing?
- In response to threat, fear or discomfort, a cat may utilize hissing as a form of communication. Cats hiss for various reasons related to behavior and one of them can be a new cat fitting in. Understanding why they’re hissing is imperative to addressing the issue.
Q. What does a cat’s hissing sound denote or mean?
A: A cat makes a hissing sound as a warning which serves as a defensive mechanism used to express a variety of things including fear, discomfort or even aggression. The sound produced by the hissing is meant to scare a potential threat and it is not uncommon to see other body language cues such as tight ears or a puffed up tail alongside.
Q. What should I think of when a cat is hissing?
A: During the moment a cat is hissing, I think it would be best to give the cat some space rather than wait until they calm down. In. Attempts to pick up and stall the cat will cause a further escalation in the situation. If a hissing cat persists than a veterinarian should be consulted.
Q: Why is my cat hissing at me all of a sudden?
A: If your cat is hissing at you out of the blue, it’s probably because you are trying to do something that your pet doesn’t appreciate or they are sick. Other factors that may cause this acting out are: a change in schedule, new smells on your person or pain. Try to relate this behavior to any other factors that could have caused some changes in the health or environment around your cat.
Q: How can I reduce the hissing between my cats?
A: Hissing is part and parcel of the introduction process especially if a new cat is in question or there are two previously unacquainted cats. To alleviate hissing, it’s best to make sure the introduced cats have separate areas along with a gradual introduction, as well as cat treats for positive reinforcement. Feliway (a pheromone product) can help defuse the situation.
Q: Is it ok for a young kitten to hiss?
A: Young kittens are also known to hiss, but it’s not as common as the cats. Kittens regardless of the gender, normally hiss while playing, getting overwhelmed or experimenting with something new. On the other hand, it is important young kittens do not hiss too frequently as that may mean they are scared or uncomfortable. Young kittens tend to feel more secure when they are out of their comfort zones.
Q: My older cat is hissing at our new kitten. What should I do?
A: Hissing is a common behavior that many older felines will exhibit when faced with a new kitten and this behavior is simply to set the new boundaries. The most patient way of getting a new cat to your home is to take the introductions slow, Give them separate sleeping places, then encourage alone but supervised meetings and interactions. Ensure that the older cat has areas to safeguard and prevent forced interactions. As time progresses this will become the new normal for sufficiency.
Q: Are there any products that can help reduce cat hissing?
A: There are clinically sanctioned products that can ease the tension on cats and cut back on the hissing to some extent. An Example is Feliway, which is a synthesized pheromone mimicking the natural tomcats pheromones and their calming pheromones. Stress hissing can also be caused by acute alfalfa calcium supplementation, quieting herbs such as catnip and getting the environment to be appropriate to such treats.
